Because I absolutely dreamt ofher.
I showed up outside her apartment the next morning at 5:45 AM on the dot.
She looked incredibly happy to see me.
We chatted as we walked through the deserted cobblestone streets. It felt like we were the only two people in all of Florence, like the city had been made just for us.
When we got to the shop, I kept her company as she set up. When I left, I told her to call me if there were any problems at all. She promised she would.
I went about my day, counting down the hours until I could see her again.
When I walked her home, we talked outside her building for almost 15 minutes.
She invited me in. I told her I had to get back to work.
“But I want a raincheck,” I said.
She smiled and nodded.
I asked if it was alright if I called to check on her later, and she agreed.
That night, we stayed on the phone for another two hours. We talked about our school days… about the dreams we had for our lives… about everything and nothing… until she yawned she was about to pass out, and we said goodnight.
Then I got to see her the next morning, looking even more beautiful than I’d remembered.
We kept that pattern going – me walking her to work, walking her home, both of us talking late into the night –
Until everything came to a head three days later.
33
Emilia
Things were going amazing with Giorgio.
Every night, the last thing I heard was his voice over the phone, making me feel safe and secure…
And every morning, I got to see his smiling face.
He’d usually come by the café during my shift just to say hello and check in on me.
And he would always hide a tiny gift for me to find – another bit of origami, or a tiny ring with a gemstone, or some funny tchotchke he’d found at a tourist kiosk.
Bianca dropped by for coffee and a chat almost every single day. If Lucia was in town, she would come, too.
I really enjoyed their visits –
But I couldn’twaitto walk home with Giorgio.
Every evening, he had to return to work as soon as he dropped me off at my apartment –
But I wanted him to come up… have a glass of wine…
And see where it went.
Although I knewexactlywhere I wanted it to go.
I was falling for him.
